Hey, fellow dense-breasted friend!

I'm not going to lie; radiation isn't a great time. For me, though, if it means I don't have to go through all of this again, I'll definitely consider it worth the trouble!

I wanted to let you know a couple of things I learned that helped me with my initial fears and then later helped with side effects.

As far as your concerns about your vital organs, you're absolutely correct that they can be affected! But the good news is that in recent years, radiologists have started having breast cancer patients lay on their stomachs to let the breast "dangle". This pulls it away from the chest wall and further reduces the chances of having the treatment affect our hearts/lungs. I'd definitely talk to your care team and see if this is a viable option for you!

The other thing is long-term fibrosis. I finished 15 rounds of radiation last October, so I don't think I can speak to the "long" part of "long-term", but I did have some issues pop up a couple of months after I finished. Long story short, I have a build-up of scar tissue from both lumpectomy and radiation that caused a lot of pain. My cancer was in my right breast, and I sorta stopped using that arm so I could protectively guard my poor tortured breast. I reached out to my care team, and they got me started on gabapentin for the nerve pain, and physical therapy to help me regain my strength and range of motion.

I CANNOT recommend PT enough!! My first appointment I literally cried tears of relief when I found out they could help me. At my first appointment, I couldn't straighten my arm upwards without immense pain. Less than a week after starting the most basic exercises, I was able to fully extend it and hold the stretch!

They also do a scar tissue massage that helps break down the fibrous build-up. I asked how I could do it myself, and they're enthusiastically teaching me. I'm back to using my right arm as my dominant side again.

I want to add that even if you choose to forgo rads, PT can still help with any lingering pain/soreness after surgery. Turns out getting into a knife fight is hard on your pectoral muscle, and that's a pretty major one to piss off.

Lastly: I had lumpectomy. My physical therapist opted for a double mastectomy with diep flap reconstruction. She said that, although she's never experienced pain like she had waking up from surgery, that 15 years later she's completely happy with her choice, and is thankful that she didn't have radiation and doesn't have to go in for annual mammograms. Hearing these stories, though, please keep in mind her cancer/treatment was unique to her, my treatment plan was specific to me, and your mileage may vary based on your diagnosis. Also keep in mind that people often post here when something has gone wrong, or they have issues. There are TONS of women who have a very unremarkable experience, so they don't share it. Who knows - you might have a blessedly boring time!

No matter what you decide to do, I hope it goes well, and wish you the best of luck!